S ponge- ivi



(No Model.)

J. S. MOGLUNG.

SPONGE MOISTENER. No. 496,695. Patented-May 2, 1893.

INVENTOR v A TTORNEYS.

ma mmms PETERS ca. wno-rouma. WASNINGTON. u r:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES S. MCOLUNG, OF PUEBLO, COLORADO.

SPONGE-MOISTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 496,695, dated May 2, 1893.

Application filed September 7, 1892- Serial No. 445,263. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES S. MOOLUNG, of Pueblo, in the county of Pueblo and State of Colorado, have invented a new and Improved Sponge-Moistener, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to a sponge moistener, and has for its object to provide a device especially adapted for use in a school room,

whereby one person may properly moisten a number of sponges in aconvenient and expeditious manner without bringing the hands in contact with the water or with the sponges, and whereby also the device may be readily transported from place to place by a child and properly manipulated.

Theinvention consists in the novel construction and combination of the several parts, as

will be hereinafter fully set forth and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forminga part of this specification, in which similar figures and letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views. I

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section. Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section through the device; and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a pair of tongs used in connection with the device.

In carrying out the invention the body A of the device consists of a receptacle of any desired shape, preferably rectangular and open at the top, otherwise closed. The body of the receptacle is provided between its ends, preferably at or near the center, with a transverse partition 10, and this partition stands diagonally, extending from the bottom to a point.

between the center and the top of the receptacle, as shown in Fig. 2, whereby the receptacle is virtually divided into two compartments 11 and 12, the compartment 11 being at the rear of the partition 10 and 'the compartment 12 in front of it, and the inclination of the partition is from the top downward in direction of the rear. A table 13, is either attached to or integral with the upper end of the partition 10, and this table is given a slight upward inclination from the partition and with the partition is secured to the sides of the receptacle in any approved manner. The table 13, extends partially over the rear compartment 11, and at the upper rear end of the table a flange 14, is formed, which flange may likewise be extended along the sides of the table. The flange 14 has two openings 15, produced therein, one at each end, and in front of the table a' presser plate or board 16, is pivoted in the sides of the receptacle. This pressure plate or board is provided with an attached and rearwardly-extending handle 17, the handle being preferably of a yoke-like pattern, and the handle is ordinarily constructed of wire and is passed through sockets formed at the edge of the plate or board, the lower extremities of the members of the handle constituting the pivotal points for the presser plate, and the openings 15, are produced in the flange of the table 13 in order that when the plate or board 16, is brought downward upon the table to an engagement with it, the members of the handle will extend rearwardly through the openings in the table flange. The presser board or plate 16, is ordinarily made of a length and width corresponding practically to the equivalent dimensions of the table, so that when the presser plate or board is carried down to an engagement with the table the rear end of the former will be adjacent to the forward face of the flange of the latter. The forward movement of the presser plate or board is limited by its side edges being brought into engagement with lugs 18, which are attached to the sides of the receptacle and extend inwardly therefrom.

The rear compartment 11, is adapted to con= tain clean water, and in it the sponges are to be dipped. The sponges are then placed upon the table 13, and the presser plate or board 16, is carried downward forcibly upon the sponge or sponges upon the table, and the surplus water is squeezed out from the sponges, the said surplus of water flowing ofi of the table 13 and into the forward compartment 12. The weight of the lugs 18, together with the inclination of the partition 10 dividing the two compartments, will serve to practically counterbalance the weight of the water in the rear compartment 11 when the forward compartment is empty, which will enable the child detailed for such service, to readily carry the device from place to place without spilling its contents, and without endeavoring to preserve the equilibrium of the device.

In order that the sponges may be dipped into the water contained in the compartment 11 and placed upon the table 13 without bringing the hand in contact with the sponges pliers B, are provided, as shown in Fig. 4, and these pliers may be of any approved construction, but they are preferably made as shown in Fig. 4:, in which they are constructed from one piece of spring metal, which is bent upon itself to form a head 19, the members of the pliers being close together at the head and made to diverge therefrom in opposite directions during the remainder of their length,

whereby the outer ends of the members of the pliers are placed some distance apart, and the extremities of these members are usual-1y bent inward, as shown at 20 in Fig. 4.

The effectiveness of this device, likewise'its simplicity and its durability are apparent; and it is likewise evident that a: child provided with such adevice may pass from desk to desk, remove the sponges from the desks or any receptacle near by, moisten them in proper manner, and return them to their sup ports without bringing the hand either in contact with the water or with the damp sponge.

It will be understood that the handle attached to-the presser plate or board 16 may be so bent that-it will clear the table flange 14 and thereby dispense with anyopenings therein.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. As an improved article of manufacture, a sponge moistener, the same consisting of a receptacle divided into two compartments by a partition, a table held in an inclined position over one of the compartments and connected with the partition, and a presser plate or board pivoted in the receptacle in front of the table and adapted for engagement therewith, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a sponge moistener, the same consisting of a receptacle divided into compartments, a table held in an inclined position over one of the compartments and communicating with another, a presser plate or board pivoted in the receptacle adjacent to the table, the said board or plate being adapted for engagement with the table, and ahandle connected with the presser board or plate, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. A sponge moistener, the same consisting of a receptacle divided into compartments, a dividingpartition occupying a diagonal position', a table connected at one end with the partition and extending inwardly therefrom over one of the compartments, a presser board or plate pivotally-connected with the receptacle adjacent to the table and adapted to be carried down essentially to an engagement therewith, a handle connected with the plate engage therewith, of pliers designed for use in connection with the receptacle, the said pliers being utilized for manipulating the sponge or sponges to be operated upon, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

. JAMES S. MOCLUNG.

Witnesses:

FRED A. MOCLUNG, T. W. J ONES. 

